On Monday, June 19, Prince Albert II, Princess Stéphanie and her daughter, Camille Gottlieb, participated in the celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Monaco’s entry into the United Nations, coinciding with the centenary of Prince Rainier III’s birth.
During his visit, Prince Albert met with Csaba Kőrösi, the President of the 77th session of the General Assembly. Their discussions covered various topics, including science, the environment, and initiatives taken to promote women’s rights in Monaco.
Following this meeting, Prince Albert, Princess Stéphanie, Isabelle Berro-Amadei (Government Counsellor-Minister for External Relations and Cooperation), and Isabelle Picco (Monaco’s Ambassador to the United Nations) had a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Prior to these engagements, Prince Albert delivered a speech at the historic adoption of the BBNJ Treaty: after 15 years of negotiations, his treaty aims to enhance the protection of marine biodiversity in the high seas.
In his address, Prince Albert expressed his appreciation for the consensus reached: “With this agreement, we are breaking the status quo. We commit ourselves to effectively combat the threats faced by seas and oceans, such as the extensive loss of marine biodiversity, destruction of habitats and ecosystems, pollution, overfishing, and the detrimental impacts of climate change […] The same determination that led to the conclusion of the negotiations should drive us to ensure the swift implementation of this historic agreement.”
Accompanying the Prince, his sister, niece, and delegation, was the Orchestre des Carabiniers, which performed a remarkable concert organized by the Permanent Mission of Monaco to the United Nations. Conducted by Major Olivier Dréan, the orchestra delivered a captivating repertoire in the iconic UN General Assembly Hall, blending tradition and modernity for an audience of 1,200 guests. The 27 musicians of the orchestra were joined by a guitarist from the NATO Jazzband, together creating a mesmerizing rendition of Santana’s “Europa.”
The occasion also served as a tribute to Prince Rainier III on his centenary. “It was a truly touching homage,” stated the Prince during an interview with Monaco Info. He reflected on his father’s immense contributions to ensuring Monaco’s full integration into the international community. The Prince also acknowledged the significance of Albert Croesi in their thoughts.
Commander Martial Pied, Chief of Corps of the Carabinieri, expressed his thoughts on the event: “We anticipated something great, something grand, but in the end, we accomplished something historic, and that’s when we knew we had arrived. We understood that we were fulfilling the diplomatic role expected of the Carabinieri, even though diplomacy usually takes place in Munich. Here, we played a diplomatic role with the Orchestra,” he shared during an interview with Monaco Info.
The day concluded with a reception at the United Nations headquarters, where 500 guests had the opportunity to explore a photo exhibition commemorating 30 years of collaboration between the Principality and the United Nations.
